updated 03:00 pm EDT, Fri July 15, 2011

BlackBerry Torch 2 appears at FCC

RIM's BlackBerry Torch 2 may be close to a release as the phone has surfaced in an FCC approval. As shown in the filing, the second-generation slider supports HSPA 3G on the 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands needed for AT&T as well as the top three Canadian carriers. Like the Bold 9900, the Torch 2 might show in late August since it too will see details go public in 45 days.

The Torch 2 should be virtually identical on the outside but will be a major improvement inside. Most rumors have it leaping to a 1.2GHz processor, 768MB of RAM, and a still 3.25-inch but much crisper 480x640 touchscreen. BlackBerry 7 should ship from the start and give it enough speed to handle 3D games and 720p video from the five-megapixel camera.

RIM has been quiet on release plans for any other phone but the Bold 9900, although slips have pointed to releases on AT&T and Bell Canada at roughly the same time. CDMA versions may arrive at the same time. [viaWireless Goodness]